PS 3545 
.1613 
VI5 
1914 
Copy 1 



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-BY- 
A. A. L. WILSON. 






Copyriffhted 1914 By A. A. h. Wilson 



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aVa. L. WILSON. 



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A WANDERER. 

1. In the land of Posey 
I'm a wanderer, 

Tryiu": hard to find the place, 
Seeking: harder still the grace 
Ev'ry heart to stir. 

2. At the gate of knowledge fair 
I a moment pause, 

f-\sk of her the way that leads 



To the thing my spirit needs — 
First of all the laws. 



3. Knowledge answers modestly 
"You must wonder on, 

J By this light I give to you 

You will have a clearer view, 
Hut it's only dawn. 

4. With the light from knowledge fair 
Ouickly on I move, 

^ Till at Wisdom's door 1 stand, 
Asking of the secret grand 
Which my claim will prove. 

r>. Wisdom in the lamp puts oil. 

Then to me replies: 
"Harder still your soul must toil, 

More your feet must tramp this soil, 

Ere you feast your eyes." 

6. Walking at a rapid gait, 

Onward 1 proceed, 
Though the way itself was straight, 

Soon I find my strength abate, 

So was checked un' si)eed. 

7 While pL^rplexed at what to do, 

To me conies relief; 
Understanding's voice I hear 

.And my being thrills witli cheer 

And receeds m\' irrief. 



8. Pointing to the house of Love, 
Understanding shows 

Where I can obtain the prize- 
Where the gift of poets lies — 
All that Love bestows. 

THE WIND OF SPRING. 

I O you, fitful Wind of spring, 
Why you try to ff ol me so? 

You are high and you are low* 
Changing as you come and go, 
O you fitful Wind of spring. 

2. O you, fitful Wind of spring! 
Now the suru.mer time it seems. 

And I'd hie me to the streams, 
But you make my thoughts vain dreanjs, 
O you, fitful W^ind of spring. 

3. O you, fitful Wind of spring. 
Soft the music of your breeze 

Bids me go 'neath sylvan trees. 
This you're sending me to tease, 
O you, fitful Wind of Spring 

4. O you, fitful wind of spring, 
Though you come and fool me so. 

Trees and shrubs and grasses grew. 
And the farn^ers plow and sow, 
While you blow, O Wind of spring. 

SLEEP. 

1- Sleep does not refresh the soul 

As work that is completed. 
Sleep's a balm, too freely used. 

Will leave the soul defeated. 

2. Glory comes not nigh to those 
Whose eyes are fond of slumber, 



Fame's fair Temple's doors are shut 
To Morpheus' drowsy number. 

3 Cravens slink away for rest 

Before the war is ended, 
Brave hearts stay and fight it out 

And their deeds are commended. 

4. Sleep's the fool's Elysium, 

All filled with dreams entrancing, 
Never does he see himself 
In any scene advancing. 

5. Noble souls lie on the couch 
Repair of body making. 

Wrestling will they find themselves 
At dawn of morning waking. 

6. Rest for body does it good 
But with the mind's controlling. 

Sleep, that enervates the heart, 
'i'he soul's sad chimes is tolling. 

LOVE, O LOVE. 

1. Love, O Love, if thou were here 
Stormy skies would all be clear, — 

Thunders cease their awful roar 

And the lightnings flash no more — 

And in thee, O Love, I'd find 

Health for soul and balm for mind, 

And would burst the bands of fear, 
If, O Love, if thou were here. 

2. Love, O Love, within thine eyes 
I'd behold the brightest skies; 

From thy voice so soft and low 
Would the sweetest music flow; 

And upon the lips a kiss 

(Could my heart wish more of bliss? ) 

Would complete the picture fair, 
If, O Love, if thou were here. 



6 
A PEACH, 

1. Say, fruit, who made thee 
With fuzzy skin so thin 

And saccharine within? 

And forined each cell a well 
Of juice to swell and tell ! 

A frag^rant story. 

2. He took a bright hue 
From earth, from air to share 

In thy face fair and clear. 

A flavor sweet and meet, 
That makes a treat complete, 

Runs thy rich meat through. 

3. An artist surely 
Infused with care so rare 

Things far and near to share; 

In making thee to be 
The beauty we now see 

An artist made thee. 

THE RAIN. 

1. The rain is falling thick and fast, 
I do not know how long twill last. 

But then it seems that I could stay 
And watch it fall the live-long day, 

2. In cadence soft and low it falls 
And strikes the roof and then the wailgt 
Nor tarries long, but glides away, 

It is so full of work and play. 

3. It gathers in its tiny hand 

And rolls along the grains of sand. 
With nimble feet it gladly goes 

To seek some feeble streams it knows. 

4. It tarries on each shrub and tree 
And says to them: "Now drinkof me. " 



It does not pass the grasses by. 
It stops and satifies their cry. 

5. The rain's a happy, jolly thing, 
As happy as a lark on wing:. 

And vvh}'- should I refrain to see 

The pictures which it makes for me? 

6 Now even when the day is done 
And sinks to rest the clouded sun. 

The rain its mission still doth keep 
And soothes me with refreshing sleep. 

AUTUxMN'S BREATH. 

1. The touch of Autumn's with'ring 

breath 
Is stealing chlorophyl from leaves 
That soon will be a shroud of death 
For mother earth, while forest grieves. 

2. A hapless ruin doth befall 
The glory of fair Summer's reign. 

It strikes upon the great and small, 
And makes all seem they grew in 
vain. 

3. But Autumn's wholly not unkind, 
For ere she strips the forest bare 

She seasons fruits so man can find 
Abundant room for hearty cheer. 

WINTER^S APPROACH. 

i The chill of Winter's blast 

Is softly stealing down, 
And soon we'll see the last 

Of fickle Autumn's brown. 

2. The merry, merry streams. 
Bewitched iDy Winter's chill, 

Will stop for pleasant dreams 
And sleep upon the hill. 



8 

3. The snow cloud's drawing near, 
\nd frost is on the ground, 

The robin's voice we'll hear 
And then the hunter's sound. 

4. Now happy are the boys, 
The girls are in high glee, 

Awaiting on the joys 

The snow man likes to see. 

5. There is a special charm 
Around the blazing hearth 

That draws us to its arm, 

While Winter reigns o'er earth 

SHADOWS. 

1. Before the blazing hearth I sit 
And watch the shadows as they flit 

Across the years. 

They tell me what I hoped to be 
When all of life was certainty 

And free from cares. 

2. Along the sounding shore I go 
And build a mansion that I know 

Will firmly stand. 

A picture of it now remains, 
The waves dislodged it from the grains 

Of moving sand. 

3. I think that certain ones will be 
To walk the road of life with me 

In perfect peace. 

In Mem'ry's hall their steps I hear. 
Their voices on that silent air 

Will never cease. 

4. I sit and watch the shadows go 
Like waters of the rivers flow 

To reach the sea. 



These shadows will forever call 
To me ill time and ^o through all 
Eternity. 

COME OUT. 

1. "Come out into the morning lij^ht," 
The birds now loudly call; 

"Come out, come out from bed and 
sleep: 

Come out, come out and take a peep 
Upon tlie earth and heaven's deep; 

Come out, both one and all." 

2. "Come out into the morning- air," 
The dewy grasses say; 

"In all the trees regaining green 
And shrubberies that grow between 

The breath of early morn is seen 
Come out, enjoy this day " 

3 "Make haste, make haste, come out 
come out," 

The brooks all gladly sing; 
"The way for all of us to do 

That we might get our labors through: 
Embrace the day while it is new. 

Come out for this is spring" 

RICHES 

1 I look out. Upon the ground 
Countless flakes of snow abound. 

But the rays that bring the day 
Diamonds before me lay. 

2 I look up. Across the sky 
Sheets of clouds are passing by. 

Ere they into rain unfold, 
I behold lar2:e sheets of gold. 



10 

3 I look dovvni. Between its sides 
Softly on a river glides. 

Now does full-grown luna shine 
On a flowing silver mine. 

4 I look in. The stress of fears 
Brings a dread of coming years. 

Faith and hope and love appear 
And supply the needed cheer. 

5 Who does crave for riches great? 
He can find it at his gate. 

Nature many-handed goes, 

On each man her riches pours. 

THE FLOWERS AND BEE 

1 "Come, little bee 

And- sip of me" 
Said every flower on the tree; 

"My heart .is large, 

1 make no charge. 

Now come, O come, and sip of me" 

2 "l surely will 
Your call fulfill" 

The little bee was heard to say; 

"For who would miss 
To take a kiss 

Or many more from flowers gay? 

3 With buzzing sound 
Their lips he found, 

And sipped the nectar pure and sweet 
And when away 

He went that day 
He said: "l thank you for the treat." 

PRESEVERANCE. 

1. Through the misty vapor sailing 

In our bark upon life's sea; 
We will keep a faith prevailing 

And our hearts from cares tet free. 



11 

Winds will come with loud voice 
blowing:. 

Dashing waves in fury high; 
We will hold the course we're going, 

On love's strength we'll e'er rely. 

We will heed the notes of warning, 
We will watch our compass true, 

Hope will keep us till the morning 
Brings bright glory to our view. 

Just beyond the waters heaving 
Lies the haven's blessed calm, 

And await for our receiving 
Body rest and spirit balm 

TO A STAR 

I see you bathe your shining form 
In heaven's changeless blue. 
Now while you peep 
From out the deep 
Pray tell me: What are you? 

I watch you climb the steep ascent 
Of yonder eastern skies, 
And sink for rest 
Out in the west 
Before my won'dring eyes. 

The storm clouds gather thick and fast 
And hide your lovely face, 

They soon depart. 

Nor mar your heart, 
Again you smile with grace 

I gaze upon your loveliness 
And watchfulness so true. 
Say. child of night, 

If not a sprite. 
Pray tell me: What are you? 



12 
TAKE TIME. 

Take time to grow, my soul, 

Let seasons o'er you roll. 
The harvest is not at the sowing, 

The seed must have some time for 
growing. 
Take time to grow, my soul, 

Take time to grow. 

Take time to learn, my soul, 

Afar off is the goal 
The scholar comes not in the morning, 

He needs some years for his adorn- 
ing. 
Take time to learn, my soul, 

Take time to learn. 

Take time to give, my soul, 
Great haste will lose the toll. 

Though man's sad plight calls for re- 
lieving 
His heart must ope for the receiving. 

Take time to give, my soul, 
Take time to give. 

Take time to live, my soul, 

Keep off the rocks and shoal 
The ship that enters port so gaily 

Her chart and compass follows daily. 
Take time to live, my soul. 

Take time to live. 

A VIOLET. 

Little violet, 

Dressed in deepest blue. 
Gladly I accept 

Thee for friendship true. 



13 

May the hands that plucked 

Thee from out thy place 
Ever will be found 

Heart and home to grace. \ 

May thy modesty 

And thy fragrance rare ' 

Teach me how to live 

And life's burdens bear. 

Little violet, 

Dyed in heavens blue. 
May I ever have 

Fondest thoughts through you. 

LOVE IS ALL. 

I need a heart to love me, 

That is all— 
A heart that owns me as its own 

No matter how I laugh or moan. 
That stands with me 'gainst wind and 
tide 

And when by cruel Fate I'm tried — 
I need a heart to love me, 

That is all. 

I need a heart to love me, 

That is all. 
If smiling Fortune me should find 

And gives me gifts of ev'ry kind 
To full my span of life with ease, 

The gifts my soul could never please, 
Unless a heart to love me 

Comes with all. 

I need a heart to love me, 

That is all. 
Two hearts in unison can beat 

With full or scanty store to eat. 
'Tis love, not work, that conquers all, 



14 

And bears the brunt of life's loud call. 
I need a heart to love me, 
That is all. 

NORTH WINDS WHIP. 

Drive, O North Wind, with your 
whip! 

Make the leaves of forest ship! 
Make them dance! 

Make them prance! 
Whirl them! 

Hurl them! 
Till at last your task is done, 

Let us have the most of fun. 

With your whip the snow cloud brings 

Like the birds upon the wing! 
Now with might! 

Left and right! 
Shatter, 

Scatter 
Them! and make a carpet white! 

Then we'll play with great delight. 

With your whip the waters lash! 

And the foaming billows dash 
With a roar 

On the shore! 
Sounding, 

Bounding, 
Make them go in merry glee! 

Such a sight we like to see. 

THANKSGIVING. 

Since ev'ry thing together works 

For good to them that love the Lord, 

We come on this Thanksgiving Day 
To sing and tell our joys abroad. 



15 

Father kind and merciful, 

Forgive us for the things done wrong 
When we by sin were led astray, 
And now inspire us in our song. 

We ihankthee for health and strength. 
The joy and gladness,- pain and woe, 

And all that go to make up life 
That we thereby can larger grow. 

Wc come and join in thankful songs 
And word of praise we send abroad, 

Since ev'rythitig together works 

r'or good to them that love Thee, 
Lord. 

NEW FOUND JOY, 

1 heard the shrieks and cries of birds. 

And thought they were in danger 
grave. 
I quickly hastened forth to see, 

And strict attention to them gave. 

I saw them whirling in the air, 

Alighting on a tree near by, 
And starting off and going back, 

And all the while 1 heard them cry. 

Nowhere around was any foe 

To make them shriek, to make them 
cry. 
I learned they had a new found joy: 

The nestlings once, they now can fly. 

Their shriek and cry came not from fear, 
But born they were of greatest joy — 

A joy that thrills with throbbing life 
And makes of sorrow no alloy. 

A new found joy's a pleasant thing, 
Esteemed alike by man and bird, 



16 

And each of them we always find 
Expressing it by deed and word. 

Then fill the air with shrieks and cries! 

Just send them out both far and near — 
From treetop, valley, mount, and plain — 

But let them leap from hearts of cheer! 



THE SUN, WIND, AND RAIN. 

The sun looked down upon the rain 

In mig^hty torrents falling:, 
And heard the loud voice of the wind 

O'er field and woodland calling. 

Together in their happy mood 
The wind and rain were playing 

Like children in the summer time 
Through dale and forest maying. 

Though all the raindrops hurried on 
The course the wind was blowing, 

They laughed because they knew the 
wind 
Could not control their flowing 

So well it pleased the sun to see 

His children play together, 
He smiled, and lo, behold a change 

At once came in the weather. 

He laughed, and soon through rifts of 
clouds 

His blood-red face was peeping. 
'Twas evening now, and thus he sought 

His dazzling couch for sleeping. 



17 
ENLIGHTENED. 

Enlightened by the days now fled, 
I rise in hope my way to tread. 

Can worse things come than I have 
passed? 
But, if they come, they cannot last. 

The past will ever be to me 
The key to all futurity. 

The star of hope within my breast 

Will never let my spirit rest, 
Until I rise and stand complete 

With sordid things beneath my feet. 
'Tis life, not death, that will prevail; 

'Tis death to doubt, to stop, to fail. 

VOICE OF SPRING. 

Listen to the voice of Spring, 
Sounding over hill and plain. 

Hear it in the winds that bring 
Clouds to drop refreshing rain. 

See, the flowers hear this voice 
And from slumber wake to grow. 

All the birds with songs rejoice, 
Ice-bound streams begin to flow. 

Ressurrection for the earth 

Is the gladsome hymn of Spring, 

And it calls in sounds of mirth 
That we, too, our hymns should 
bring. 

Let us not be less than birds, 
Flowers, shrubberries and trees. 

Let us sing with grateful words 
For this voice in ever> breeze. 



18 
THE STARS AND STRIPES. 

The birth of the Stars and Stripes as told 
Brings the noise of battle again 

With the daring and dash of Courage 
bold, 
And the carnage of horses and men. 

The annals of all the tribes of earth 

That tell of any real gain 
Reveal: The obtaining of any thing- 
worth 

Was attended with greatest pain. 

The birth of the Stars and Stripes 
brought joy 
To the heart of the patriot band, 
Because 'neath its folds they dared to 
destroy 
The tyrant on sea and on land. 

All honor to those who fought and bled 
For a cause so worthy and just! 

And though all their names are enrolled 
with the dead, 
Yet still we honor their dust. 

PREPARAIION. 

The gloom that spreads o'er Wintersface, 
The clouds that weep themselves 
away. 

The biting wind that fly in haste 

Prepare us for Spring's brightest day- 

The honest farmer's patient toil 
On mountain side or fertile plain 

And implements that turn the soil 
Prepare the land for golden grain. 




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